Putin to face German wrath over NGO raids

The inspections sparked concern in the West that Putin was attempting to clamp down on criticism of his rule. Source: Reuters / Vostock Photo.

Inspections of two Russia-based German foundations by prosecutors as part of a blanket audit of NGOs launched in February have triggered a strong reaction from the German government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks set
to face questions over the unannounced inspections of hundreds of
non-governmental organisations across Russia in recent weeks when he visits
Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 7-8.

“I don’t know how sharp the nature of the
exchange of opinions will be, but you know what the mood is ahead of the visit,
and it is clear the chancellor will raise the issue of NGO inspections,”
presidential aide Yury Shashkov told journalists on Friday.

Russian rights activists say the raids,
including inspections of the Moscow offices of Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch and Memorial, are intended to scare NGOs funded from abroad and
engaged in “political activities” into complying with a controversial law that
obliges them to register as “foreign agents.”

The inspections, which have also hit a
number of religious and cultural groups seemingly far removed from politics,
sparked concern in the West and allegations from opposition figures that Putin,
whose return to the Kremlin last year triggered mass street protests, was
attempting to clamp down on criticism of his rule.

The NGO inspections began shortly after
Putin told a February 14 meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the
successor to the KGB, that “any direct or indirect interference in our internal
affairs, any form of pressure on Russia, our allies and partners is
unacceptable.”

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“Neither does anyone have a monopoly on
speaking in the name of Russian society, especially structures financed from
abroad and serving foreign interests,” he added.

But Putin said last week, in response to
concerns raised by Russia's human rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, that the
inspections were “routine measures linked to the desire of the law enforcement
agencies to bring the activities of organizations in line with the law.”

He also said, however, that law enforcement
should avoid “excesses” as they go about their duties.

Leading NGO figures, including veteran
rights worker and Soviet-era dissident Lyudmila Alexeyeva have said the
“foreign agents” tag is aimed at discrediting them in the eyes of the public,
and insist the term is a near synonym for “spy.”

The author of the law, United Russia
lawmaker Alexander Sidyakin, disputed that claim in an interview with RIA
Novosti last year. He said the law was intended to counter what he called
attempts by the United States to “affect Russian politics,” echoing accusations
by Putin in late 2011 that the United States was behind the protests against
his rule.

The inspections have frequently been filmed
by television crews from state media channels which have aired attacks on
Putin’s foes.

German
Criticism

The inspections have also affected a number
of German NGOs, prompting a critical statement from German government spokesman
Steffen Seibert.

“Our foundations and their partners in
Russian society play an important role in the development of German-Russian
relations,” Seibert said last week. “Measures that impair their work or
criminalize them damage our relations.”

He also said Merkel intended to discuss the
inspections with Putin.

Germany's commissioner for German-Russian
coordination, Andreas Schockenhoff, said the inspections were “weakening”
Russia and “detrimental to its claim to be a world power.”

The criticism comes amid a cooling of once
warm ties between Moscow and Berlin, which has frequently expressed concern
over the rights situation in Putin’s Russia.

Russian First Deputy Prosecutor General
Alexander Buksman on Thursday dismissed accusations that the inspections were
aimed at intimidating rights groups.

“The inspections are not even finished, no
conclusions have been made, and already we’re being accused of being biased,”
Buksman said. “We are simply carrying out our responsibilities.”